Yardbarker: Demaurice Smithhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/players/demaurice_smith/143314
Recent articles about Demaurice Smithen-usWATCH: Jerry Jones confronted by protesters at owners meetingDallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has evolved into a central figure in the national anthem debate in which the NFL is currently embroiled. And two protesters confronted Jones as he entered the Conrad Hotel in New York for the NFL’s annual fall owners meeting.Video posted by NJ.com shows the protesters approaching Jones. Holding signs, the protesters shouted at Jones about anthem protests while mentioning Donald Trump. Jones stopped briefly to listen to them but did not appear to respond. Security personnel arrived a short time later and Jones continued his way into the meeting. Jones last week indicated any Cowboys player who knelt or engaged in any kind of protest during the anthem would be benched. He continued to expand upon and reiterate his views on the matter as the week progressed, saying on Friday that despite his strong stance against anthem protests, “both sides right” on the issue.A major topic that will be addressed at the owners meetings, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, is the anthem protests17 Oct 2017 13:55:44 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/jerry_jones_confronted_by_protesters_at_owners_meeting_vid/s1_8061_24800864
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/jerry_jones_confronted_by_protesters_at_owners_meeting_vid/s1_8061_24800864WATCH: Jerry Jones confronted by protesters at owners meetinghttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/jerry_jones_confronted_by_protesters_at_owners_meeting_vid/s1_8061_24800864http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/f/cf648a4a78088eeddb882d5316df36b448c504ad/top_story/10324089.jpgRoger Goodell backs Broncos’ statement that NFL will ‘stand together’Prior to the kickoff of Sunday’s slate of games, Roger Goodell passed a note along to NFL league staff regarding national anthem protests. The NFL commissioner said he is proud of the way players and teams have handled a sensitive issue, but he also appears to be calling for the kneeling to stop.“This past week was a challenging week for all of us, but I am proud of the way our clubs and players have come together and entered into dialog like never before,” Goodell wrote, via ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “On Friday, the Broncos released a statement directly from their players. I wanted to share it with you as it provides a narrative of this past week and their hopes for today.”The Broncos, who have had players like linebacker Brandon Marshall participate in anthem protests since Colin Kaepernick was the first to kneel last year, vowed to “stand together” starting in Week 4. NFL Players Association director DeMaurice Smith said Goodell and NFL owners want players to stop protesting because they fear the protests coul01 Oct 2017 10:57:57 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/roger_goodell_backs_broncos_statement_that_nfl_will_stand_together/s1_127_24679196
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/roger_goodell_backs_broncos_statement_that_nfl_will_stand_together/s1_127_24679196Roger Goodell backs Broncos’ statement that NFL will ‘stand together’http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/roger_goodell_backs_broncos_statement_that_nfl_will_stand_together/s1_127_24679196http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/5/b571401832edcaced71c310ac56f9f874aaf8942/top_story/9978230.jpgDeMaurice Smith: Roger Goodell, NFL owners want anthem protests to endThe topic of national anthem protests has been a major talking point for NFL players, owners and executives over the past week. Among the many conversations league officials have had over the protests was one between NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. According to Smith, Goodell’s stance on anthem protests is quite clear.The boss wants players to stop kneeling.“It certainly was my takeaway that the commissioner was looking for a way for the protests to end,” Smith told ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham on Friday. “Knowing the league the way I know the league, they are first and foremost concerned about the impact on their business. That’s always their first concern. I mean, who are we kidding?”Smith’s conversation with Goodell took place on Monday — a day after anthem protests were more widespread than ever across the league. Goodell declined to comment for ESPN’s story, but a source did not dispute Smith’s account when asked by Van Natta 01 Oct 2017 08:31:40 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/demaurice_smith_roger_goodell_nfl_owners_want_anthem_protests_to_end/s1_127_24678590
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/demaurice_smith_roger_goodell_nfl_owners_want_anthem_protests_to_end/s1_127_24678590DeMaurice Smith: Roger Goodell, NFL owners want anthem protests to endhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/demaurice_smith_roger_goodell_nfl_owners_want_anthem_protests_to_end/s1_127_24678590http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/e/2e630e29d748253a437ab1efb548672bd6bdf549/top_story/10303335.jpgNFLPA head throws support behind Michael BennettNFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith took to social media on Wednesday to show support for union member, defensive end Michael Bennett of the Seattle Seahawks. “We have seen Michael’s statement, who is one of our player leaders. Social justice is an issue that all NFL players, just like all Americans, have a right to fight for and demand,” Smith said, via his official Twitter account. “We support Michael, just like we do all players, and we are sorry for him and his family that he had that experience.”The experience Smith is talking about, of course, became public record on Wednesday. Bennett took to the public to talk about an incident in Las Vegas last month. He claims police brutality at the hands of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (more on that here).For his part, Bennett himself has expanded on a previous statement he made on social media regarding the incident in question.As Smith noted in his statement, the NLFPA has a meeting in Seattle on Thursday. Surely, the meeting itself was prev06 Sep 2017 20:55:37 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/nflpa_head_throws_support_behind_michael_bennett/s1_12680_24617381
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/nflpa_head_throws_support_behind_michael_bennett/s1_12680_24617381NFLPA head throws support behind Michael Bennetthttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/nflpa_head_throws_support_behind_michael_bennett/s1_12680_24617381http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/0/b0c9196bdd5112a3fb1f4fa78ec11f7e590637b7/top_story/10244804.jpgSports & Politics Intersect: Attempt to avoid controversy has adverse effect for ESPNFront Five: The top stories that shaped both sports & politics this week "Is this even real life anymore?" - Clay Travis, conservative sports blogger who broke the Robert Lee/ESPN story.In an effort to desperately avoid entering the political arena, ESPN inadvertently threw itself right in the middle of it after conservative blogger Clay Travis outed the company on Tuesday for pulling one of its commentators from covering an upcoming University of Virginia football game because his name is Robert Lee. In his post, Travis accuses the sports media giant of kowtowing to "left wing idiots," claiming that the move was done so as to avoid offending them in the wake of Charlottesville. ESPN confirmed that they had reassigned Lee to cover another game, but that their decision – mutually agreed upon by both parties – was motivated by their desire to spare Lee of any potential backlash or memes based on his name's similarity to that of Robert E. Lee, the Confederate general whose statue and its removal served as th25 Aug 2017 22:10:00 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/sports_politics_intersect_attempt_to_avoid_controversy_has_adverse_effect_for_espn/s1_13132_24593132
http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/sports_politics_intersect_attempt_to_avoid_controversy_has_adverse_effect_for_espn/s1_13132_24593132Sports & Politics Intersect: Attempt to avoid controversy has adverse effect for ESPNhttp://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/sports_politics_intersect_attempt_to_avoid_controversy_has_adverse_effect_for_espn/s1_13132_24593132http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/8/f84215f6f28070af97a053d02db72b22d8a0946c/top_story/robertelee_espn.jpgColin Kaepernick tweets gratitude to supporters at NFL HQ rallyColin Kaepernick on Thursday took to Twitter to express gratitude to those who attended a rally in his support outside NFL headquarters in New York.Approximately 1,000 people were estimated at the rally, called United We Stand, Wednesday, many wearing the quarterback’s jersey. Kaepernick’s tweet praised those who attended the really by pointing out how his “faith always has been and always will be in the power of the people!” The rally came on the heels of the NAACP writing a letter in which the organization requested a meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that alleges Kaepernick is “being victimized and discriminated against because of his exercise of free speech.”“In order to determine the best approach to protecting players from being unfairly persecuted for their political beliefs,” the NAACP wrote in the letter, via The Washington Post. “we hope to begin a dialogue with you and any other members of NFL leadership who have a vested interest in preserving the league’s integrity.”Kaepernick has been 25 Aug 2017 14:43:24 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/colin_kaepernick_tweets_gratitude_to_supporters_at_nfl_hq_rally/s1_8061_24592297
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/colin_kaepernick_tweets_gratitude_to_supporters_at_nfl_hq_rally/s1_8061_24592297Colin Kaepernick tweets gratitude to supporters at NFL HQ rallyhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/colin_kaepernick_tweets_gratitude_to_supporters_at_nfl_hq_rally/s1_8061_24592297http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/1/61554a8c07a183306e811b34d013975965df720c/top_story/GettyImages-838053374.jpgCyrus Mehri will run against DeMaurice Smith for NFLPA headIf DeMaurice Smith wants to keep his job as head of the NFLPA in August, he’ll have to withstand a challenge from civil rights lawyer Cyrus Mehri.Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk reported that Tuesday’s airing of REAL Sports with Bryant Gumbel (airing Tuesday at 11 p.m. Eastern) will include Mehri announcing his candidacy. The last CBA is one of the primary things causing Mehri to run.“The players went backwards economically in a massive way, and that’s hundreds of millions of dollars that were forfeited and De Smith gave the commissioner a blank check,” Mehri said on the show, per Williams. “‘Dear Commissioner, you can do whatever you want on player discipline.’ Well, we’re gonna fix that.”Mehri has been involved in prominent cases against the likes of Coca-Cola, Texaco and Wells Fargo. Perhaps his most notable contribution in the NFL was advocating for the Rooney Rule, which was adopted in 2002.22 Aug 2017 21:46:26 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/cyrus_mehri_will_run_against_demaurice_smith_for_nflpa_head/s1_12680_24583291
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/cyrus_mehri_will_run_against_demaurice_smith_for_nflpa_head/s1_12680_24583291Cyrus Mehri will run against DeMaurice Smith for NFLPA headhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/cyrus_mehri_will_run_against_demaurice_smith_for_nflpa_head/s1_12680_24583291http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/9/999af33d809f39fd6cfa1afd38f9ea12c7eb5274/top_story/9861046.jpgNFLPA head says Roger Goodell ‘lied’ about drafting new personal conduct policyRelations between the NFL and NFLPA are toxic right now, and NFLPA director DeMaurice Smith’s latest comments are likely to further increase tensions.In a taped interview for HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel set to air Tuesday, Smith outright accused commissioner Roger Goodell of lying about crafting a new personal conduct policy with union input.“When Roger Goodell can stand up there as he did and say, ‘We’re drafting a new NFL Personal Conduct Policy. We’re gonna do so in conjunction with the union,’ and then doesn’t consult the union, comes up with a new policy, that says what?” Gumbel asked, via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.“That says he lied,” Smith replied.Smith’s further comments about Goodell painted a picture of a rather frosty relationship.“He has a job, and I have a job,” Smith said. “My relationship with Roger I would argue is irrelevant.”When asked if Smith trusted Goodell, his response was simply “I don’t have the luxury of trust, now do I?”The NFL’s terse response was simply to blame the 19 Aug 2017 15:56:51 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/nflpa_head_says_roger_goodell_lied_about_drafting_new_personal_conduct_policy/s1_127_24565363
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/nflpa_head_says_roger_goodell_lied_about_drafting_new_personal_conduct_policy/s1_127_24565363NFLPA head says Roger Goodell ‘lied’ about drafting new personal conduct policyhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/nflpa_head_says_roger_goodell_lied_about_drafting_new_personal_conduct_policy/s1_127_24565363http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/a/5a77d155d1aaf917d891b35a1d7dd7758c4d1e5b/top_story/9101658.jpgDeMaurice Smith: NFL teams are blackballing Ray RiceBy Steve DelVecchio
Can a running back who is 28 years old, missed an entire season of football and has a history with domestic violence be “blackballed” by NFL teams?
NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith seems to think that is what is happening with former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice.
“This, unfortunately, is a league that has a history of blackballing players,” Smith told ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio on Thursday, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “I find it hard to believe that a player of Mr. Rice’s caliber hasn’t at least gotten one offer from a team to come work out.”
In case Smith has forgotten, Mr. Rice was caught on tape knocking out his wife (who was his fiancee at the time) inside a casino elevator in Atlantic City. The charge was recently dismissed after Rice completed a pretrial intervention program, but that does not mean the incident never took place.
The term “blackballed” would be more appropriate if Rice was wrongly accused of something without proo29 May 2015 12:02:30 -0400http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/demaurice_smith_nfl_teams_are_blackballing_ray_rice/s1_127_18876374
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/demaurice_smith_nfl_teams_are_blackballing_ray_rice/s1_127_18876374DeMaurice Smith: NFL teams are blackballing Ray Ricehttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/demaurice_smith_nfl_teams_are_blackballing_ray_rice/s1_127_18876374http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/4/e47d7399bbe0da453af8d5833fb16bad144706a0/top_story/rice.jpgDeMaurice Smith Facing Four Challengers for NFLPA’s Top PositionThe NFL Players Association will meet for its annual conference in Hawaii late next month. In that meeting, the union’s 32 team reps will elect who it deems should run the union moving forward.
DeMaurice Smith has held the executive director post for the past six years. During his tenure, the union has been weakened considerably due to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement which was agreed to in 2011.
Smith is facing four challengers for the position. Former NFL player Sean Gilbert is seen as the most legitimate threat to defeat Smith.
While some of Gilbert’s platform is extreme, including an elimination of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement via a collusion lawsuit, he does have a rather interesting platform. His plan includes a $1 million minimum annual salary, the elimination of two preseason games and free agency after three years in the NFL.
Gilbert’s election may be seen as a longshot, but he has put forth a plan that some players around the league may very well support over what Smith has15 Feb 2015 14:28:10 -0500http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/demaurice_smith_facing_four_challengers_for_nflpas_top_position/s1_12680_18278951
http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/demaurice_smith_facing_four_challengers_for_nflpas_top_position/s1_12680_18278951DeMaurice Smith Facing Four Challengers for NFLPA’s Top Positionhttp://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/demaurice_smith_facing_four_challengers_for_nflpas_top_position/s1_12680_18278951http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.pngNFLPA boss: No Deflategate interviews until after SBBy Vincent Frank
This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith indicated in a media session with reporters on Thursday that the league will not be interviewing players regarding Deflategate until after the conclusion of the Super Bowl.
With only a few days remaining until Super Bowl XLIX between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, interviews would act as an even larger distraction for players on the Patriots. And in reality, that would be unfair to the team as a whole.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had previously indicated that he didn’t expect to hear from the league until after the game, a belief that was confirmed by Smith on Thursday.
It remains to be seen what the investigation will conclude, but Robert Kraft and the Patriots are going to be under the microscope once the Super Bowl concludes. If any wrongdoing is found, punishment could include anything from fines to draft picks being taken away to suspensions.
Of course, the NFL investigation has y29 Jan 2015 19:19:21 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/nflpa_executive_director_league_wont_interview_players_about_deflate_gate_until_after_the_season/s1_12680_18179852
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/nflpa_executive_director_league_wont_interview_players_about_deflate_gate_until_after_the_season/s1_12680_18179852NFLPA boss: No Deflategate interviews until after SBhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/nflpa_executive_director_league_wont_interview_players_about_deflate_gate_until_after_the_season/s1_12680_18179852http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/6/263e3c42b2a9b844cfd97512f5380eab0d23e032/top_story/smith.jpg